The Central District Court of Orenburg sentenced the first criminal…
The Central District Court of Orenburg sentenced the first criminal case in Russia regarding the organization and participation in the activities of the international public LGBT movement (an organization recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation).
Consensus
- The Orenburg Central District Court issued the first criminal conviction in Russia for organizing and participating in activities of the LGBT* movement, which is banned as an extremist organization.
- Three individuals—owner, administrator, and art director of the bar Pose—were convicted.
- All defendants denied guilt during the trial.
- The court sentenced them to prison terms between 2 years 3 months and 7 years in a general regime penal colony.
- Additional penalties included restrictions on freedom for 8 months to 1 year 6 months, a ban on managing entertainment or catering businesses for 2–3 years, and the recovery of over 1 million rubles as income from extremist activities.
- The case was initiated after the Supreme Court of Russia recognized the LGBT* movement as extremist in November 2023.
- The defense has filed an appeal against the verdict.
Points of divergence
- The press service of the Orenburg Central District Court refused to disclose any details about the appellate complaint. — vm
- The defense's appeal was reported by News.ru, citing the court’s press service; also mentions separate investigations into 'Eksmo' publishing house and related figures over distribution of LGBT-themed books, including a case involving former Popcorn Books director Dmitry Protopopov who pleaded guilty. — m24
- The Moscow court previously sentenced Artem Vakhlyayev (ex-head of sales at Eksmo) and Pavel Ivanov (former director of Popcorn Books) to 4 years' conditional imprisonment, with both being added to the extremist list. — m24
- The investigation into 'Eksmo' included financial ties between executives and former Popcorn Books employees, suspected of corruption payments. — m24
- On June 2, Yekaterina Mizulina, director of the League for a Safe Internet, requested an investigation into a Ksenia Sobchak interview with blogger Igor Sinyak for promoting LGBT content. — vedomosti
Coverage (6 sources)
- Defense appealed first verdict in Russia on LGBT* community organization case — Вечерняя Москва
- Защита обжаловала первый в России приговор по делу о создании ЛГБТ-сообщества — Москва 24
- Defendants in Russia's first 'LGBT movement' case sentenced to up to seven years in prison — Новая газета Европа
- First in Russia: LGBT movement participant sentenced in Orenburg — Интерфакс
- First verdict in Russia on case of organizing an LGBT community — Ведомости
- First conviction in Russia for organizing LGBT movement activities handed down — Фонтанка